Massaging apparatus



DeC- 23, 1941- H. D. WHEELER MASSAGING'APPARATUS 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Sept. 50, 1939 Snventor E@ h. Q /WHEEL Dec. 23, 1941.

H. D. WHEELER MAssAGING APPARATUSI Filed' sept. 30, 19:59

2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Snventor Ef?.

(Ittorneg Patented Dec. 23, 1941 UNITED STATES MAS SAGING APPARATUS Harold Dale Wheeler, Inglewood, Calif., assignor to James E. Schuler, Hawthorne, Calif.

Applcationseptemher 30, 1939, Serial No. 297,334

8 Claims. Y (Cl. 12S- 38) My invention relates to a massaging apparatus, particularly to an apparatus for imparting air pressure pulsations to the body.

One of the principal objects of this invention is to provide a simple and efficient apparatus for imparting air pressure pulsations, and more specifically a pulsating suction or vacuum, to the body, and also to provide a device of this class in which the elements are compactly arranged so that the device may be easily manipulated and controlled.

Another very important object of this invention is to provide an apparatus or device of this class in which force or strength of the air pressure, or more specically suction or vacuum pulsations may be readily varied or adjusted by the operator.

An object also of this invention is to provide a device of this class in which the massaging member may be easily and quickly shifted to various positions or angles with respect to the handle or grip portion, so that it may bereadily applied to remote places of the body.

A further object of this invention is the provision of ya massaging member for a suction or vacuum pulsating device, in which is provided means for effectively checking or drawing out of place, over a large area, skin tissues.

An important object also of this invention is to provide a massaging means in which the drawing force of the suction or Vacuum is controlled by the extent to which skin tissues, or other body portions, are drawn by or into the massaging means.

Still another important object of this invention is the provision of means in connection with the massaging device in which the suction or vacuum is connected to the atmosphere when the skin tissues or other body portions, are drawn by or into the massaging device, and in which i Fig. 1 is a. longitudinal sectional view of a 55,'

massaging device incorporating my invention,v

portions being shown in elevation;

Fig. 2 is a longitudinal view, taken at a right' angle, with the cover of the housing removed; Fig. 3 is a sectional view taken through 3-3 oi Fig. l;

Fig. 4 `is an inner side View of the suction adjusting member;

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary sectional view showing the suction adjusting member in relation to its associated members; f

Fig. 6 is a sectional View of the outer end of' end by one hand, this portion being designated.

the enlarged or grip end Ia while the other or head end is reduced as designated by lb. housing is longitudinally divided on a plane passing through the center of the reduced end, form-v ing a main housing member Ic land a cover ld.

In the housing is a frame 2 which is secured in the housing member lc.- rame is a motor @consisting primarily of an electromagnet 3and a rotating armature 3*.` The magnet is located at the 'extreme rear end of.

the housing, -and the current therefor is supplied by a cable 4 extending into the rear end of the housing. Positioned outwardly from and coaxially with the gear 6 is another pinion 1 which meshes with a large gear 8, the axis of which is located between the rst pinion 5 and the motor magnet. The motor may be started by Ia knob 3d secured to the outer end of the spindle and located at the outside of the housing.

Coaxially with the reduced end of the housing is a cylinder Il in which is reciprocally mounted a piston l2 which is pivotally connected by a connecting rod I3 eccentrically to the outer sidev of the gear 8. The head end of the cylinder extends to the enc of the housing and is secured at its head end to the main housing member Ic.. Y

It Will be here noted that the piston, gears, and other parts are readily accessible and may be removed by the removal of the cover.

This

At one end of the The cylinder and piston provide a vacuum pump for the massaging apparatus. The inner portion of the cylinder is provided with a port Il or ports communicating with the interior of the housing or with the atmosphere, and uncovered by the head end of the piston when it is in its receded position. These ports are preferably in the form of longitudinal grooves ||a in theY inner endof the wallof; the cylinder.

It will be noted that the head offthe piston-has preferably a cupped pump leather I2a with its apron extending backwardly over the piston.

At the head end of the housing is a head member |4 which has a reduced portion |4'extending into and secured to the headV of. the cylinder. The outer end of the head member hasa transverse slot IIIb forming furcations Illc and Idd.

In this slot is pivotally mounted the-disc portion I5aL of the nozzle member I5, the same beingretained in position by a pivot screw I6 extending through the furcation |4. The'nozzle-member has a radially extending externally tapered stem I5 toL which the massaging members may be frictionally secured.` This stem extends beyond the end or'edge of the housing members.

The head member has a longitudinal-passage |4e extending outwardly from `the inner end, and has lateral passages |4f and Mg communicating respectively with the inner and outer sides of the furcation Ide. The adjacent face ofthe disc portion |5P- of the nozzle member has an-arcua-te groovewhich connects with the central passage of the stem. The lateral passage If terminates at and registers with the arcuate groove. The engaging faces of the furcation Il!c and the nozzle member are surface ground'to-provide a tight seat therebetween. Between the adjacent faces of :the furcation |Id and the nozzle member is a spring |'I for holding the ground facesin sealing engagement.

Against the vouter side-of the furcation I4c isa suction adjusting member I8 which is pivotally mounted on the pivot screw. This member is a disc which has an arcuate groove It!a of a crosssectionI gradually increasing towards one endof the groove, andthe latter or large end communicating withthe atmosphere. Asv the disc I8 is rotated in one direction or the other, the passage Illg is connected to the atmosphere through variously restricted openings, thereby varying directly the suction applied to the nozzle-end.

The massaging member, 2|, which may be made ofyieldable orhard rubber, Celluloid, or the like, is essentiallya cup 2Iwvith a reduced hollow shank 2|b with a tapered recess 2|c to receive and.A fit over the tapered stem of the nozzle member, the recess connecting with the cup. A simple'form is shown'in Figs. 7 and8. In the cup are a plurality of closely positioned projections, lugs,1 or stops 2| d, the outer ends of which are spaced backwardly or inwardly from the plane of the edge of the peripheral iiangey le-of the cup. The purpose of these spaced projections, lugs, or stops is to permit suction to be applied to the part of the body covered by the cup, but to prevent such part of the body or the flabby portions or loose skin thereof to be drawn, stretched. or distorted excessively.r

The massaging member shown in Figs; Sand' 10 -is-for asimilar purpose butperforms'anadditionallfunction. Here the spaced projections 3| are arranged on a separate disc 32,' and this disc is rnovab'l-y mounted von preferably through guide screws 33. This disc isnorm'ally urged voutwardly from the bottom 34a of theY cup 34.by1a;spring 35, against heads at the outer ends of the guide screws. At the adjacent axial portions of the cup and the disc are respectively a valve seal 3|b and a valve 32a. By means of such valve construction, the force of the suction or vacuum is reduced or sealed when the disc is forced inwardly by the part of the body drawn inwardly.

The massaging device shown in Fig. 1l, also hasan inwardly movable projection or stop carrying disc. But in this instance there is provided a valve member 36 which is reciprocally mounted in the axial portion of the cup. The valve member is forced against the disc by a spring 35, whichalso forces the disc 32 outwardly. When ytheivalve member 36 is forced inwardly the vacuumis not sealed but instead two ports 34 and 36a, respectively of the massaging and valve members are brought into registry and thereby connect the vacuum to the atmosphere.

Though I have shown and described a particular construction, combination, and arrangement of parts and portions, and certain modifications thereof, I do not wish to be limited to the same,V but desire to include in the scope of my invention the construction, combination, and arrangement, substantially as set forth in the appended claims.

I claim:

1. In a massaging apparatus, a cylinder, a piston reciprocally mounted in one end of the cylinder, means for operating the piston, and a massaging member connected to the opposite end of the cylinder, the outer end of the massaging member having a passage directly connected to the Vinteri-or of the cylinder, there being also provided at the latter end of the cylinder a manually variable pressure relief opening direct to the atmosphere whereby the pressure at the massaging member may be varied.

2. In a massaging apparatus, a cylinder, a piston reciprocally mounted in one end of the cylinder, means for operating the piston, and a massaging memb'er connected to the opposite end of the cylinder, the outer 'end of the massaging `member havinga passage directly connected to the interior of the cylinder, there being also provided at the latter end of the cylinder a manually variable pressure relief opening direct to the atmosphere whereby the pressure at the massaging member may be varied, the rst mentioned end of the cylinder having a port in the side wall, said port being uncovered by the piston when the latter is in a receded position at the first mentioned end of the cylinder.

3. In a messaging apparatus, a head member having one end bifurcated forming a transverse slot, oneof the furcations having at the inner side a passage directed backwardly, means at the inner end of the passage for causing a vacuum, a swivel nozzle member having one end iitted in saidslot, means securing said end of the nozzle member to pivot in said slot, and spring means urging Said nozzle member against the furcation having said passage.

4. In a massaging apparatus, a head member having one end bifurcated forming a transverse slot, one of the furcations having at the inner side a passage .directed backwardly, ay cylinder and piston means within the head member and near the bifurcated end, the cylinder of the latter meanscommunicating with the inner end of the passage for causing a vacuum, a swivel nozzle member having one end iitted in said slot, means securing said end of the nozzle member to pivot in said slot, and spring means urging said nozzle member against the furcation having said passage.

5. In a massaging apparatus, a head member having one end bifurcated forming a transverse slot, one of the furcations having at the inner side a passage directed backwardly, means at the inner end of the passage for causing a vacuum, a swivel nozzle member having one end fitted in said slot, means securing said end of the nozzle member to pivot in said slot, spring means urging said nozzle member against the furcation having said passage, the outer end of the passage communicating With tl'ie atmosphere, and means retained by the pivot means for manually adjusting the atmosphere opening of the passage.

6. In a massaging apparatus, a head member having one end bifurcated forming a transverse slot, one of the furcations having at the inner side a passage directed backwardly, means at the inner end of the passage for causing a vacuum, a swivel nozzle member having one end tted in said slot, means securing said end. of the nozzle member to pivot in said slot, spring m'eans urging said nozzle member against the furcation having said passage, the outer end of the passage communicating with the atmosphere through the outer side of said furcation, and means pivotally mounted on the pivot means against the outer side of said furcation for manually adjusting the atmosphere opening of the passage.

7. In a massaging apparatus, 'a head member having a backwardly directed passage, means at the inner end of the passage for causing a vacuum, a swivel nozzle member, means pivotally connecting said nozzle member to the head member, spring means urging said nozzle member against the head member over the outer end of the passage, the outer end of the passage communicating also with the atmosphere, and means retained by the pivot means for manually adjusting the atmosphere opening of the passage.

8. In a massaging apparatus, a head member having a backwardly directed passage, means at the inner end of the passage for causing a vacuum, the outer end of the passage extending to the side of the head member, a swivel nozzle member, means pivotally connecting said nozzle member to the side of the head member, spring means urging said nozzle member against the head member over the outer end of the passage, the swivel having a passage connected to the outer end of the rst passage, one of the passages having an `opening connected to the atmosphere,

and means pivotally mounted on the pivot means against said outer side of the head member for manually adjusting the atmosphere opening of the passage.

HAROLD DALE WHEELER. 

